The province has changed its mind and will give $100,000 to fund the Nova Scotia SPCA’s animal cruelty investigation program.

“This is really good news for Nova Scotians, really good news for animals and animals in need,” SPCA executive director Kristin Williams said Thursday.

“Obviously, the SPCA is really excited to be able to provide this service.”

Williams said Premier Darrell Dexter telephoned her Thursday morning to tell her of the government’s decision.

“I honestly think we have the community to thank for their tremendous support,” Williams said.

For the past few weeks, the program’s future was up in the air.

The SPCA, which operates as a charity, had said it would stop investigating charges of abuse, neglect and cruelty against animals on April 1 because of the funding shortage.

The organization had asked the province for $100,000 to carry on the service, but the province said the SPCA had more than enough money to handle the investigations.

The province issued a news release Thursday morning announcing the funding, which comes from the Agriculture Department.

Later, Dexter told reporters the welfare of animals is a shared responsibility and the province wants to make sure the SPCA’s service continues.

“The SPCA fills a role in the province, one that is important,” the premier said after a cabinet meeting.

“We need to be able to co-ordinate the work they do and the work we do.”

The money is in addition to the annual funding and in-kind support the SPCA now receives from the Agriculture Department, the release said.

Dexter said the money is for the upcoming fiscal year. Whether it will be available after that is open to discussion, he said.

Williams said there are issues with the program that have yet to be resolved with the province, including the heavy workload investigators carry.

“The status quo is still a challenge, but this means the program can continue,” she said. “The funding will provide a life-saving service that … will allow us to continue to respond to allegations of abuse, neglect and cruelty.”

A meeting with the province is set next week to discuss those issues as well as Thursday’s funding decision.

According to figures provided by the SPCA, the organization responded to more than 18,000 complaints, investigated 1,632 cases and intervened on behalf of more than 5,000 animals last year.